TS016 -Emerging Opportunities in Technical Textiles

Emerging Opportunity in Technical Textiles

Janamjay Narwaria

Department of Textile Technology

DKTE Engineering College ,Icchalkaranji, India

Abstract:

Although ‘technical’ textiles have attracted considerable attention, the use of fibres, yarns and fabrics for applications other than clothing and furnishing is not a new phenomenon. Nor is it exclusively linked to the emergence of modern artificial fibres and textiles. The technical textiles supply chain is a long and complex one, stretching from the manufacturers of polymers for technical fibres, coating and speciality membranes through to the converters and fabricators who incorporate technical textiles into finished products or use them as an essential part of their industrial operations. Technical textiles has never been a single coherent industry sector and market segment. It is developing in many different directions with varying speeds and levels of success. This chapter goes on to consider some of the factors – technical, commercial and global which are driving the industry forward.

Introduction:

Technical textile offers a great opportunities to succeed in the post WTO ( world trade organization) scenario. For the country is transforming into a developed nation, give more importance in adopting latest technologies and procedure in various fields. Development of new fibers and technology has led to the creation of new application of technical textile, which is bound enlarge the market size and offer opportunities for high growth. The growth of technical textile has greater advantages in production and R&D for highly skilled manpower. Major focus of the national government today is opportunities of employment. The buyers and sellers of technical textile to keep their focus on Indians develop a rational strategy to seize the emerging opportunities.

Definition and scope of technical textiles:

The definition of technical textiles adopted by the authoritative Textile terms and Definitions, published by the Textile Institute1, is ‘textile materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics’.

Technical textile are functional fabrics used in multiple industries such as automobile, constructions and agriculture.

Technical textile is one of the most dynamic and broad ranging areas of modern textiles, materials, processes, products and applications are all changing too rapidly to define and document. The Indian technical textile sector expected to grow to $28.7bn at a CAGR of 20% by 2020-21 from 16.6bn in 2017-18 (by invest India).

With the growing dominance of technical textile, techtextil messe Frankfurt GmbH has classified technical textile in 12 groups from the application point of view. They are as follows:

The continuous growth of the industry has been possible owing to the growth of end-user industries such as automotive, health care, infrastructure, and oil and petroleum which consume a variety of technical textile products. To list down a few:

Mobiltech:

The enormous size of the automobile industry in India has been pushing mobiltech to grow as there has been an increase in usage of products such as seat belts, airbags, and automotive carpets

Sportstech:

With the increase in national and international tournaments in India and government schemes providing subsidies to university or colleges, sportstech will receive the much-required impetus for sustainable future growth.

Bulidtech:

Demand for builtech is expected to increase on account of increasing urbanization and infrastructural upgradation. Moreover, increased awareness and usage of products such as architectural membrane and scaffolding nets will also contribute to the growing demand.

Meditech:

Growth in the healthcare industry and the increase in product acceptance with the increase in population are the key drivers of this segment. Healthcare/hygiene products, non-implantable materials, textiles in extracorporeal devices, implantable materials (soft tissue implants, artificial tendon(meshes), artificial ligament and cartilages) are focus areas within this broad sub-segments.

Protech:

More investments in defence is contributing to the growth of protech. Also, industries are making use of fire retardant clothing and chemical protective clothing.

Geotech:

Significant spending in infrastructure by government and the private players provide a tremendous growth opportunity for this segment.

The Indian government has been actively promoting and implementing major schemes such as Technology Mission on Technical Textiles (TMTT), scheme for promoting usage of agro-textiles and use of geotechnical textiles in the northeast, scheme for pushing the use of agro-textiles and the creation of Focus Incubation Centres (FIC). These measures coupled with the government allowing for 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route in this sector offers significant opportunities for joint ventures. With India positioning itself as a formidable destination for FDI in the world, technical textiles is one area which is likely to see fast-paced growth.

Globalisation of technical textiles:

If North America and Western Europe have the highest levels of per capita consumption of technical textiles at present, then they are also relatively mature markets. The emerging countries of Asia, Eastern Europe and the rest of the world are becoming important markets in almost every sphere, from automotive manufacture through to sporting and leisure goods. Technical textiles for food production, construction and geotextiles are likely to be particularly important. In the case of the last of these, geotextiles, consumption up to the year 2005 is expected to grow at over 12% per annum across the whole of Asia compared with less than 6% in Western Europe and the USA. In the case of Eastern Europe and South America, annual growth rates could be as high as 18% and 16% per annum respectively, although from relatively small base levels at present.

	10^3 tonnes			$ million
	2000	2005	Growth (% pa)	2000	2005	Growth (% pa)
Western Europe	2690	3110	2.9	13770	15730	2.7
Eastern Europe	420	560	5.9	2500	3260	5.5
North America	3450	3890	2.4	16980	18920	2.2
South America	350	430	4.2	1870	2270	3.9
Asia India	3560 1,204	4510 1,573	4.8 5.4	20560 3,633	25870 4,905	4.7 5.4
Rest of the world	870	1190	6.5	4590	6280	6.5

Table Worldwide consumption of technical textiles by geographical region, 2000–2005

Indian technical textile sector has the potential to reach US$ 50bn. Market by 2025:

India is emerging as a significant player in the technical textiles industry and contributes to approximately 10% of global consumption. India’s technical textiles market is valued at US$ 17 billion, which has been growing a CAGR of 12% since the last five years.

India is the net importer of technical textile products. India exported technical textile products worth US$ 1,737 million in 2017-18, while the imports for the same stood at US$ 2,126 million. India is a key exporter of certain commoditized products such as sacks & bags, flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), jute carpet backing, hessian, etc. The technology-intensive products such as airbags, tyre cord fabric, glass fibre, etc., are imported to a large extent.

India has emerged as a key market for technical textile products. The Indian technical textile industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16% to reach US$ 50 bn. by 2025

Some of the key factors that will drive the growth of technical textiles industry in India are:

• Rising Consumer Awareness
• Escalating Expenditure on Defence and Security
• Scope of Import Substitution
• Product & Process innovation
• Growing Manufacturing industry
• Government Support

How can India lead in this sector:

The industry is facing certain key issues such as lack of indigenous availability of specialized raw materials, limited technology, absence of product development and R&D support, etc., that are impeding its growth. Moreover, inadequate awareness about the benefits of technical textiles among end-users is also hampering the demand in this sector.

India’s technical textiles industry is still in the infancy stage. In order to grow in this sector, India cannot solely depend on fiscal incentives and policy support. The following measures need to be undertaken and prioritized to facilitate growth of the Indian technical textile industry:

• Attracting Investments
• Forming International Partnership
• Focusing on R&D
• Focus on Training & Education
• Implementation of Standards
• Regulatory Mechanism to Increase Consumption of Technical Textiles

Conclusion:

Getting success in Technical Textiles is a complex phenomenon. It needs to address various issues related to materials, machines, processes, technology and marketing. What is important is to encourage entrepreneurship into technical textiles and recognizing such ventures as knowledge-based industry.

Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) of Government of India provides an important opportunity for the willing entrepreneurs to venture into this emerging area of textile industry. Now, since the union government has realized the importance of this field, it is expected that new sops in the next five-year plan may yield expected results.

References:

Handbook of technical textile (A R Horrocks and S C Anand)

https://wazir.in/india-an-emerging-market-global-manufacturing-hub-for-technical-textiles